Autonomous Vehicle Ordinance Veto
At a glance
Based on human-uploaded captions, which may still contain errors in names and numbers.
- What: the Council's reconsideration of Mayor Frey's veto of a new City code chapter regulating commercial autonomous vehicles, which passed at the October 1 meeting.
- Where it stands: the override failed, 7 ayes to 5 nays; nine votes were needed. The veto stands and the ordinance is not adopted.
- Next: Council Member Wonsley gave notice, with Vice President Osman, Council Member Chavez and Council Member Chowdhury adding their names, to introduce a revised ordinance (a new Chapter 342 of Title 13, licenses and business regulations) at the next regular meeting.
The vote
- Under the City Charter and Council Rule 7.8, a vetoed act returns automatically at the next meeting and passes over the veto only with at least two-thirds of the Council (nine of 13 members). Twelve of 13 members were present; Council Member Warren was absent.
- For the override: Council President Payne, Vice President Osman, Council Member Chowdhury, Council Member Chavez, Council Member Stevenson, Council Member Wonsley, Council Member Chughtai. Against: Council Member Rainville, Council Member Vetaw, Council Member Palmisano, Council Member Shaffer, Council Member Whiting.
What backers say next
- Council Member Wonsley said the new version would be built with City staff, state legislators and community stakeholders, and would prioritize workers' rights, pedestrian and bike safety, less car dependence, no surveillance by technology companies and fair payment by the companies.
- She cited a North Star Policy Center figure that rideshare drivers generate $561 million in economic activity in Minnesota (the tax revenue figure is garbled in the captions), and said Mayor Frey has offered no policy to protect drivers or residents.
Sources
- 2026-10-15 - City Council (video of the October 15, 2026 meeting)
- 2026-10-15 - City Council
- Minneapolis agenda portal: https://lims.minneapolismn.gov
Discussion time
About 6 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-15 - City Council | 6 |
Log
- 2026-11-05 - Business, Housing & Zoning Committee - an autonomous vehicle ordinance on the committee agenda was referred to staff.
- 2026-10-15 - City Council - override vote failed 7-5 (nine needed); veto sustained; Council Member Wonsley gave notice of a revised ordinance for the next meeting.
- 2026-10-01 - City Council - the revised ordinance passed 7-6 after extended debate over worker protections versus research and consumer choice; Vice President Osman urged the mayor not to veto it.
- 2026-09-29 - Committee of the Whole - continued public hearing; committee approved the ordinance 7-4 with a substitute covering contracted workers and "human safety monitor" language.
2026-10-15 - City Council
Marked agenda: the Mayor's veto of Ordinance 2026-034 was sustained. Notice was given of a new ordinance adding a Chapter 342 on commercial autonomous vehicles (Wonsley, Osman, Chavez, Chowdhury).